Tamaqua woman one of 16 cast members in CBS’ ‘Pirate Master’ Saturday, 26 May 2007 By JILL WHALENStaff WriterChrista DeAngelo was a standout high school basketball player, college graduate, Army veteran and is a mother.Now DeAngelo, 29, can add “pirate” to her list of achievements.The Tamaqua woman recently sailed aboard a 179-foot ship in search of hidden treasure worth almost $1 million.DeAngelo’s high seas adventure came courtesy of the new CBS reality-based television show, “Pirate Master.” As one of the 16 contestants, DeAngelo competes as a pirate while sailing the Caribbean.The top “pirate” brings home a $500,000 booty.Although filming was completed over 33 days in March and April, DeAngelo’s contract forbids her from talking about the show until it ends. Sworn to secrecy, she is unable to tell even her closest family members who was, was named the winner.DeAngelo said that she visited the CBS Web site intending to fill out an application for another show, “Amazing Race.”But when she saw the application for “Pirate Master,” she decided to apply for that instead. After a series of television interviews and a trip to Los Angeles for finalists, DeAngelo was told that she’d been chosen.“Every since I applied, I just knew that I would make it,” she said. “I always say, ‘If you believe something is going to happen, it does.’”According to the show’s Web site, the contestants travel around the island of Dominica while living aboard a pirate ship. The individuals decipher clues that lead them closer to hidden treasure.Each week, one contestant becomes captain of the ship and assigns roles and chores to the remaining crew members. Also each week, one contestant is eliminated or “cut adrift.”In the end, only one contestant, the “Pirate Master,” will remain to take home the grand prize.In a press release for the show, series creator and executive producer Mark Burnett explained the premise. “This is a show where, in true pirate fashion, anything can happen with a group of people that live by their own set of rules and usually break them. It’s adventure, excitement and loads of treasure. Anyone who ever wanted to be a pirate will love this show,” he said.The show will premiere Thursday at 8 p.m. on CBS.DeAngelo isn’t sure if she’ll be watching. She jokes that she had to listen to her online cast interview four times before she had enough courage to actually watch it.“But I’m seeing the previews now and I’m OK with them,” she said. “I’m going to try to watch. But who knows, maybe I’ll wait to buy (the episodes) on DVD”DeAngelo, however, is not new to television. A former Miss Hawaiian Tropic, she was featured extra on “The Sopranos” and “The Knights of Prosperity.”DeAngelo’s biggest fan might be her daughter, Iris, 6. The kindergartner is anxiously awaiting the show’s debut.“Her mom is a pirate. How cool is that?,” DeAngelo asked.As for the rest of DeAngelo’s family, she said they’re all excited. But, she said, none of them batted an eye when she told them she’d been selected for the show.“I can’t surprise them anymore,” she laughs. “My family is always expecting weird things from me. They’ve just gotten used to it.”DeAngelo was a standout Tamaqua Area High School basketball player, scoring 1,082 points during her career that spanned 1991-95.Upon graduation, DeAngelo attended St. Francis College, Brooklyn, and Alvernia College, Reading. She joined the Army, where she worked as an administrative assistant and played on the All-Army Basketball Team. Most recently, she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Park University in Missouri and hopes to get a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology.DeAngelo will compete against contestants ranging in age from 21 to 45. The contestants include a musician, district attorney and a scientist/Chippendale dancer.